Massaging vibrator device



Sept. 14, 1954 A. c. FISCHER ET AL 2,688,960

MASSAGING VIBRATOR DEVICE Filed June 22, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l HTTOK/VEVS Patented Sept. 14, 1954 I TED S liP ATiEN T 2,688,930

-MA S SA'GI NG VIBRATORD'EVICE Anna C. Fischer and Robert Oliver Kubick, "Glen"- dale, Calif., assignors to A. Fischer -& Co

Glendale, -Califl, a. 'copartners'hip composed or Robert 'A. Fischer and AnnaC. Fischer Application June -22, 1953, Serial No. 363,111

-9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to body massage ap'paratus and is particularly directed to improvem'ents in the body contacting parts of a port- -able vibrator device.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a'vibratory massagedevi'ce having relatively soft body contacting rollers and which 'device may be rolled either longitudinally or laterally over any desired portion of a persons b'ody.

Another "object isjto provide an improved mounting for the body contacting rollers of a massaging vibrator device which mounting enables the rotary axis of the rollers to be oriented as desired, to the end that the device may be rolled longitudinally or laterally or may be restrained from rolling movement.

Other and more detailed objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings:

Figure "1 is a perspective view "showing a preferred form of the invention.

Figure 2 is an end view'partly i'n sebtionshowing the manner of 'use of -a belt or strap in conjunction with our improved vibrator device.

Figure 3 is a sectional "view 'showing details 'of the mounting "of one pair 'of body contacting rollers. I

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the roller =carrying swivel member.

-Figure 5 shows the body contacting rollers in position for lateral movement ot the device.

Figure '6 shows the body contacting rollers in position :for longitudinal movement of I the device.

Figure 7 shows the body contacting rollers oriented in different positions to prevent rolling movement of the device in any direction.

Referring to the drawings:

The massaging vibrator device generally designated [0 includes a case or housing ll provided with'a handle I 2 's'haped tobe grasped conveniently in one hand. An electric motor, not "shown, is contained within the housing II and drives one or more eccentric weights 13 (Figure 2) located within the housing. For purposes of assembly the housing may be'i'o'rmed of 'two gen-- erally similar halves connected alon'gthe transverse joint l4 and "held against separation by means of longitudinally extending 'threadedelements l5. While it is preferable 'to form the housing II by molding it from suitable plastic materials, it is recognized th'at'the housing may be constructed 'frorn a'n-y 'desired material.

iplu'rality of foot pieces I 6 are formed integrally with the housing. rrtm eah foot piece theree'iitends-a longitudinal ribor ba'r I 1. "These bars-also meet'along the joint M. Alongitu'dinal slot 'orclearan'ce space ls isrormed between each of the bars ll' a'nd t he housing H and these slots extend continuously between the foot pieces l6. A strap or belt l!) may pass over the 'bar 11 through the slots I 8 and under the housing I l, as shown 'in 'Figure '2. 'When the strap or ten 19 is tensioned the massaging vibrator device 10 is fric'tionally clamped for movement with the belt "and this enables the user to move the device -10 along portions of the users body as shown in Figure 1. p

In accordance with 'this invention we-have provided body contacting rollers 20 which permit the device It tobe rolled-either longitudinally or laterally. A roller assembly generally desig- "nated 2! is mounted on each 'o'f the foot pieces 18 and each of "these assemblies -2-l includes two rollers 20 mounted to turn freely about a common axis. Each rol1er- '2-0is'formed of relatively soft rubber like materialand'is provided with a cylindrical portion '2 2, -a spherical portion '23 and a flat inner faoe 2'4. Each pair of rollers 20 is 'moiinte d -so that the "convex spherical portions 23 project "-in opposite directions.

A swivel mernb'er 2 5, s'how'n clearly in Figure 4, is provided with oppositely projecting trunnions-and an enlarged head 2! "is formed on the outer end -'of each trunnion. Each roller is provided with an axial bore '28 which turns on one or the trunnionsand is also provided with a groove 29 to receive the enlarged head 21. Each roller inay turn freely on its respective trunnion but ismeld-againstseparation by means of the head 21 andgroove 2 9. "The material of the roller's zll issufficiently soft to permit initial installation by forcing "the --'head I 2;! through the bore 28. I

An "eminent 3 0 threaded into "each of the I f o'o't pie'oes -16 forms an upright post andeach of these elements -39 supports one of the swivel members 25. Each swivel member "is provided with a central bor e 3! and "a c'o-axial 'counterbore 32. The bore 3! 'r 'e'ceives the-shankportion of the element 30 and the 'c'ou'riterbore-ilz receivesa compression spring. The upper end of each spring :33 enga'gesanannular-shoulder fl formed within the swivel member 25 and the lower end of eachspring "33engages the hea'd'portion 35 of the post element ''30. "'I-heupperend'ofeach of the "swivel members '25 is formed with a 'series of n'otche's 36 and projections 3"! which are adapted to engage similar and complementary projections an and notche's ts formed "on the lower end of the foot pieces H6. The surfaces forming the notches and projections are slanted or tilted at an angle so that turning movement of the swivel member relative to the housing H is accompanied by longitudinal reciprocating movement of the swivel member 25. Four projections may be provided on each of the swivel members and foot pieces so that the wheel assemblies 2| may be held in position so that the device l may be rolled either longitudinally or laterally. The springs 33 hold the swivel members 25 in selected position with respect to the foot pieces. Figure 5 shows the wheel assemblies 2| oriented to provide lateral rolling movement for the device It), while Figure 6 shows the wheel assemblies 2| oriented to provide longitudinal rolling movement.

In Figure 7 the forward roller assemblies 2| are positioned for longitudinal rolling movement whereas the rearward roller assemblies 2| are oriented for transverse rolling movement. The efiectof this arrangement is to prevent rolling movement of the device ID in any direction.

In operation, the electric motor within the housing [I is supplied with electric power from the cable 38 and turns the eccentric weight l3 within the casing. A grill 39 at each end of the housing includes openings to permit passage or" air into and out of the casing for the purpose of cooling the motor. The vibration transmitted to the casing through the rotating eccentric weight i3 is communicated to the foot pieces I6 and the roller assemblies 2|. The vibration is then transmitted to the body of the user through the soft pliant elastic rollers 20. The rounded portions 23 of the rollers allow the device to be used adjacent various parts of the body without discomfort. The device may be grasped by means of the handle l2 and manipulated as desired, or the belt I9 maybe used in the manner shown in Figures 1 and 2 for moving the device over otherwise inaccessible portions of the users body. The use of pairs of rollers on each swivel assembly not only avoids oficenter loading on the foot pieces IE but provides additional contact area against the body of the user so that a soft and gentle yet effective massaging action is achieved.

Having fully described our invention, it is to be understood that we do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but our invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a housing, means within the housing for vibrating the housing, a member mounted on said housing 'for swiveling movement about a vertical axis, a relatively soft pliant body-contacting roller mounted on said member for turning movement about a horizontal axis, and means for releasably securing said member relative to said housing in any one of a plurality of angular positions relative to the housing.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of z a housing, means within the housing for vibrating the housing, a member mounted on said housing for swiveling movement about a vertical axis, a pair of relatively soft pliant bodycontacting rollers mounted on said member for turning movement about a common horizontal axis, and means for releasably securing said member relative to said housing in any one of a plurality of angular positions relative to the housing.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of: a housing, means within the housing for vibrating the housing, a pair of laterally spaced foot pieces on the forward portion of the housing, a pair of laterally spaced foot pieces on the rearward portion of the housing, a member mounted on each of said foot pieces for swiveling movement about a certain axis, a relatively soft pliant body-contacting roller mounted on each of said members for turning movement about a common axis transverse of the swiveling axis of said member, and means for releasably securing each of said members relative to said housing in either of two positions so that the housing may roll either longitudinally or laterally on said rollers.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a housing, means within the housing for vibrating the housing, a plurality of members each mounted on the housing for swiveling movement about a vertical axis, a relatively soft pliant body-contacting roller mounted on each of said members for turning movement about a horizontal axis, and means for releasably securing each of said members relative to said housing in either of two positions so that the housing may roll either longitudinally or laterally on said rollers.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of: a housing, means within the housing for vibrating the housing, a pair of laterally.

spaced foot pieces on the forward portion of the housing, a pair of laterally spaced foot pieces on the rearward portion of the housing, a member mounted on each of said foot pieces for swiveling movement about a vertical axis, a pair of relatively soft pliant body-contacting rollers mounted on each of said members for turning movement about a common horizontal axis, and means on each foot piece and each member for releasably securing each of said members relative to said housing in either of two positions so that the housing may roll either longitudinally or laterally on said rollers.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of: a housing, means within the housing for vibrating the housing, a pair of laterally spaced foot pieces on the forward portion of the housing, a pair of laterally spaced foot pieces on the rearward portion of the housing, a stationary vertical post secured to each of said foot pieces, a member mounted to swivel on each of said posts and each provided with a pair of horizontal trunnions, a body-contacting roller mounted upon each of said trunnions, and means on each foot piece and each member for releasably securing each of said members relative to said housing in either of two positions so that the housing may roll either longitudinally or laterally on said rollers.

'7. A roller assembly for a massaging vibrator device, comprising: a stationary vertical post, a member mounted to swivel on the post and provided with a horizontal trunnion, a body-contacting roller rotatably mounted on said trunnion, and resilient means within said member and encircling the post and operable to move the swivel member axially of the post.

8. A roller assembly for a massaging vibrator device, comprising: a stationary vertical post, a member mounted to swivel on the post and provided with oppositely projecting horizontal trunnions, a body-contacting roller rotatably mountedon each of said trunnions, and resilient means within said member and encircling the post acting to move the swivel member axially of References Cited in the file of this patent the UNITED STATES PATENTS 9. A roller assembly for a massaging v1brator device, comprising: a stationary vertical post, a Number Name Date member mounted to swivel on the post and pro- 5 2,624,335 M11161 6, 1953 vided with oppositely projecting horizontal F EI PATENTS trunnions a body-contacting roller rotatably Number Country Date mounted on each of said trunmons, the swivel 4229 Great Britain 1878 member having oneend provided with a notched surface, and resilient means within said member 10 and encircling the post acting to move the swivel member axially of the post. 

